Price Paid:  $300.00 from local audio dealer

Summary:
I have not compared this receiver against other brands, so I should give it four stars so as not to bias the average score. HOWEVER, I do not think it is fair for the one reviewer below (from Wisconsin) to submit TWO one-star reviews just because he had a bad experience with this product! Therefore, I am giving the Yamaha RX-596 five stars to partially offset his damaging ratings. I have been using this receiver for almost one year, and it has worked flawlessly. The motorized volume and input selector knobs are only audible if you put your ear beside them. The LEDs for tuner signal strength are great for skipping over 'iffy' stations. And, the two sets of speaker connections (A and B) work in parallel when they're both used (not in series, as in some receivers ), so that bi-wiring is easy; i.e., using both sets of binding posts. (Bi-wiring is pointless in a serial circuit; it just serves to double the length of the speaker cable. You can check yours by connecting only one set of speakers to either the A or B posts. If you then select A and B together on the control panel, the speakers will NOT work if A and B connections are in series.) Some reviewers pointed out that there is no subwoofer output. Since all the subs that I've seen have line level and speaker level inputs, you can connect it to the same posts as your speakers using different terminals (e.g., spades for speakers, bananas for sub). Lastly, one reviewer that liked the Direct feature asked why not make the receiver permanently 'direct'. The Direct feature bypasses the tone, balance and loudness controls, and some people (including myself) would miss them.

Strengths:
Described above

Weaknesses:
Rear panel not solid - moved when pushing in banana connectors

Price Paid:  $400.00 from fs eau claire, wi

Summary:
The volume control motor went bad after one year. After having it repair by yamaha it failed again after 18 months. I know this will upset people that work for yamaha, but your customer service and product quality are awful.

Strengths:
price

Weaknesses:
build quality

Similar Products Used:
marantz, luxman

Price Paid:  $220.00

Summary:
I would concur with much of the possitives already mentioned. Ample, clean power. The frequency response is particularly good in the low and high ends, but not over-done. The "CD-Direct" feature seems to actually have a noticable affect on the sound of CDs, things seem more up-front by just a hair - it switches to a dedicated amp when this option is on. The motor-controlled source selector and volume knob are in-audible when operating - which suggests a sign of good build quality.

Strengths:
Smooth, clean, sound. High power.

Weaknesses:
The CD-Direct & Pure-direct features are peculiar - why not make cleaner sound PERMANENTLY, rather than an option!?! Oh well.. was that a weakness?..

Similar Products Used:
Connected to PSB 2B speakers, & Yamaha CDC-585.

Price Paid:  $399.00 from Tweeter etc.

Summary:
This is the best receiver that I have found. It has an even frequency response. With orchestral music all the instruments have correct tonality and no certain instrument (frequency) is overdone. For its price I don't think this receiver has any faults. Bright rock and bad recordings are all played very well without any edginess to set off my ears. On an ultimate scale I see two problems. First is a lack of dynamic punch. This receiver is best used with efficient speakers. With Vienna Acoustics Bach and pounding rock music, the speaker needed more punch. Kick drums and leading edge transients (which could be considered detail) could be better. This receiver does not have a torroidial transformer. Instead it uses a "dual mono" power supply setup. I think this is what causes the problem. The lesser problem is lack of clarity, imaging, and leading edge crispness. Singers and instruments are a little hazy both in detail and sounstaging placement. In summary, for a cheap receiver it sounds really great! Get some efficent speakers and the dynamics should be fine. On most music this is not really an issue. In comparison, Cambridge integrated is not even sounding. Denon is dead sounding. Sony etc. is bright and not natural as Yamaha. Teac would be my only thought as a competitor to this receiver. So if you want a receiver because you don't want the hassle of separate integrated and tuner and all the remotes the Yamaha should definitely be on your list. In my case my speakers aren't real efficient so I will go the integrated route. Probably NAD or used.

Strengths:
Even sounding. Instruments sound like themselves. Convenient. The best sounding receiver I've found.

Weaknesses:
Lacks dynamic punch and ultimate clarity.

Similar Products Used:
Denon, Teac, Cambridge Audio, Sony, other mass market Japanese stuff.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Magnolia HiFi

Summary:
I listened to this receiver at the local Magnolia HiFi in an A/B comparo with the Denon DRA-395 through Klipsch SB-2 bookshelf speakers, audio source was a Denon CD player (DCD 1650AR ?). Source material: instrumental jazz music(not mine). These two recievers are a good comparo set as they both have similar specs, rated at 80 WPC and are in the same general price range. I started with the Denon and was fairly impressed with it's relative detail and imaging (remember we are talking basement priced components here). Next I had the saleman switch to the Yamaha. At first I thought it sounded a bit harsh, and my reaction was to lean toward the Denon. Not wanting to be hasty, I luckily continued to listen to both recievers back and forth. Why luckily? Because the more I listened, the more I realized my initial reaction was wrong. While the Denon had a more accurate mid-bass, the Yamaha was much more natural sounding in the spectrum above that level. Some might argue that the Yamaha was slightly bright in the high end, but I think it still sounded much more accurate, clear and open than the Denon. Now for the bad news, the Denon had an overall build quality that felt tactily superior to the Yamaha. That's not to say the Yamaha has cheap parts, but the volume and button switchgear felt of a higher quality on the Denon. The Denon was approximately $50 USD less in cost than the Yamaha, but I feel $50 well spent. Thumbs up to the Yamaha. If you are considering a low cost stereo reciever, you owe it to yourself to give this one a try.

Strengths:
natural, open and accurate from the midrange up. good imaging. great entry reciever for the begining audio junkie.

Weaknesses:
somewhat muddy mid-bass on down (although to be fair, I was listening to the reciever through bookshelf speakers). switchgear doesn't feel as robust as the Denon's. some might think the high end is too bright.

Similar Products Used:
Denon DRA-395